The Long Discourses of the Buddha: A Translation of the Digha Nikaya (The T eachings of the Buddha)

US: Wisdom Publications, 1995. Hardcover. Very Good/Very Good. A copy that has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting.The spine remains undamaged. This book offers a complete translation of the Digha Nikaya, the long disco urses of the Buddha, one of the major collections of texts in the Pali Cano n, the authorized scriptures of Theravada Buddhism. This collection--among the oldest records of the historical Buddha's original teachings, given in India two and a half thousand years ago--consists of thirty-four longer-len gth suttas, or discourses, distinguished as such from the middle-length and shorter suttas of the other collections. These suttas reveal the gentleness, compassion, power, and penetrating wisd om of the Buddha. Included are teachings on mindfulness (Mahasatipatthana S utta); on morality, concentration, and wisdom (Subha Sutta); on dependent o rigination (Mahanidrana Sutta); on the roots and causes of wrong views (Bra hmajala Sutta); and a long description of the Buddha's last days and passin g away (Mahaparinibbana Sutta); along with a wealth of practical advice and insight for all those travelling along the spiritual path. Venerable Sumedho Thera writes in his foreword: "[These suttas] are not mea nt to be 'sacred scriptures' that tell us what to believe. One should read them, listen to them, think about them, contemplate them, and investigate t he present reality, the present experience, with them. Then, and only then, can one insightfully know the truth beyond words." Introduced with a vivid account of the Buddha's life and times and a short survey of his teachings, The Long Discourses of the Buddha brings us close.